Waste collecting bag



June 2, 1964 H. H. STEUART 3,135,458

WASTE COLLECTING BAG Filed Jan. 22, 1962 INVEN TOR.

BY am 9 MM United States Patent "ice 3,135,458 WASTE COLLECTING BAG Herbert H. Steuart, 1210 Lake Ave., Detroit Lakes, Minn. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,774 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-63) This invention relates to cleaning devices. More particularly, it relates to waste or soil pipe cleaning methods and devices for practicing the same.

Waste or soil pipes are conventionally provided with clean-out plugs at some point along their length, frequently adjacent turns or bends in the pipe and most frequently adjacent points where the flow within the pipe reaches the end of its vertical flow and is transferred along a horizontal path. It is common at such points to have a spur or clean-out section connected to and in alignment with the horizontal pipe, the clean-out section having an open end closed with a readily removable clean-out plug. When it becomes necessary because of plugging or sluggish flow to clean out the waste or soil pipe, plumbers experience very disagreeable and unsanitary conditions in that it is extremely difiicult to efliect the cleaning operation without considerable messiness and scattering of liquids and solid materials which in turn creates excessive insanitation. My invention is directed toward eliminating these highly unsatisfactory conditions.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus for cleaning out a waste or soil pipe without undue insanitation.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved method and device which is simple and inexpensive in construction and usage and which will eifectively preclude the unsanitary conditions usuallyattendant with the cleaning operation for soil and waste pipes.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved bag member which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and apply to a soil or waste pipe preparatory to a cleaning operation which will collect the waste liquids and solids effectively in a highly sanitary manner to permit their removaland discard without the insanitary condition usually attendant with such an operation.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved bag member which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and apply to a soil or waste pipe preparatory to a cleaning operation which is so constructed as to first permit its application and then provide access to the clean-out plug to remove the same and to permit the insertion and use of a clean-out rod within the soil or waste pipe while the bag member remains attached in receiving relation to the pipe to insure that all of the waste will be sanitarily collected within the bag member.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of my bag for use in the cleaning operation of a waste pipe; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bag when in use.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a single plastic sheet 5 made into an imperforate bag member indicated generally by the numeral 6. This bag member 6 has a closed bottom 7, an open upper end 8 and water impervious bottom 9 and side walls 10.

The sheet 5 is folded as at 11 so that its ends overlie each other and are then sewed, heat sealed, or otherwise sealed as at 12 to complete the side walls 10. Then the side portions of the sheet 5 are folded over and sealed in a similar manner to form the closed bottom wall 9.

The open upper end 8 of the bag member is characterized by the angulation of the opening defining portions.

3,135,458 Patented June 2, 1964 It will be noted that at the etxreme upper end of the bag the side walls 10 have terminal portions 13 which define an opening, the opening defining portions extending parallel to the bottom wall 9 and terminating at a point 14 short of the vertical planes of the outer confines of the bag. These terminal portions 13 are folded over and sewed with stitching 15 to form a seam through which a cord 16 or other tie means extends. The cord 16 functions as a securing means for the bag to the waste pipe in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The side walls 10 also have other upper terminal portions 17, as best seen in FIG. 1, which define a second open portion 18 of the open upper end of the bag. These terminal portions 17, as shown, extend downwardly and outwardly at an angle from the first mentioned'portion 13 so that the second portion 18 of the bagopenjng is disposed intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the bag member 6. These terminal portions 17 are folded over and sewed or otherwise sealed to provide added strength and thereby prevent accidental tearing while in use.

FIG. 2 shows the bag applied to a soil or waste pipe indicated generally by the numeral 19 having vertically extending portions 19a and horizontal extending portions 1%. The spur or clean-out section 20 is shown at the left of FIG. 2 and it will be noted that it is aligned with the horizontal portion 19b of the soil or waste pipe in the conventional manner. The end of the clean-out section 20 at the left hand side of FIG. 2 is open as indicated at 21 and is adapted to receive and threadedly engage a cleanout plug (not shown) therein. A clean-out rod 22 is also shown in FIG. 2 in the position in which it will be used after the bag is applied.

When put to use the bag member 6 is first applied to the spur or clean-out section 20 of the waste pipe 19 in the manner shown with the cord 16 used to secure the same in depending relation to the end of the clean-out section. It will be noted that the terminal portions 13 have been applied to the spur section 20 so as to encircle the same preparatory to tying the knot as shown in FIG. 2. It will also be noted that the terminal portions 17 extend downwardly and outwardly from the end of the soil pipe so that the user may have ready access to the clean-out plug. After the bag has been applied as shown the plumber removes the clean-out plug which permits the waste material and fluid to flow outwardly and into the interior of the bag 6 which has its interior in communication with the end of the spur section 20 as a result of being applied thereto in the manner prescribed. The plumber can then insert the clean-out rod 22 between the opposite terminal portions 17 and into the interior of the bag and into the interior of the waste pipe 19 and may reciprocate the same longitudinally within the spur section 20 and the waste pipe 19 to induce the flow into the bag 6 and to loosen and draw the solid material to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 to cause the same to drop into the bag 6. After the cleaning operation has been completed it is a simple matter to remove the bag and discard the same while being careful to avoid spilling its contents.

From the above it can be seen that I have provided a novel, simple and inexpensive method and device for effecting the clean out operation of a waste pipe without the unsanitary conditions normally attendant with such an operation. The entire operation can be effected without any of they liquids or solid material from the interior of the waste pipe being deposited upon the floor, on the walls, or in other manners usually attendant with this operation. Experience has shown that the advantage of the use of this bag 6 in the manner prescribed is welcomed by practicing plumbers in that through the use of this bag it is now possible to effect the cleaning opera- =7; tion in a much more sanitary manner than has heretofore been possible with the result that both the plumber and the householder is much more satisfied with the results of the operations.

It will be realized that the bag 6 may be manufactured from a single sheet of plastic material having sufficient thickness to insure against easy tearing. The bag 6, of course, is made of an imperforate material which is impervious to water. There are many plastic products on the market which will function in a satisfactory manner. For example, any polyethylene sheet material of sufficient thickness will function in a very satisfactory manner and will provide a bag which may be constructed very inexpensively and very simply with a minimum of cost as to labor and materials.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A waste collecting device for use in the cleaning out of the clean-out section of a waste pipe, said device comprising:

(a) an imperforate bag member having an open upper end and closed bottom and water-impervious bottom and side walls,

(b) said side walls having upper terminal portions defining a first open portion at said open end,

'(0) securing means connected to said terminal portions of said side walls for securing the same in encircling relation to the clean-out section of a Waste pipe to bring the interior of said bag member into receiving relation with said member,

(d) said side walls in its free form also having other upper terminal portions extending downwarly and outwardly toward said botom wall from said first mentioned upper terminal portions and at an angle to said first mentioned terminal portions and defining a second open portion at said open upper end intermediate the extreme upper and lower extremities of said bag member to permit of the insertion and reciprocation of a cleaning rod within the clean-out section of a waste pipe while said bag member is so secured thereto.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein,

(e) said first mentioned upper terminal portions of said side walls extend parallel to said bottom wall and said second mentioned terminal portions extend at an angle thereto from points adjacent said securing means toward said bottom wall.

3. A waste collecting device for use in the cleaning out of the clean-out section of a waste pipe, said device comprising:

(a) an imperforate bag member having an open upper end and closed bottom and water-impervious bottom and side walls,

(b) said side walls defining a first open portion at said open upper end,

(0) securing means connected to said side walls adjacent said first open portion for securing said side walls in encircling relation to the clean-out section of a waste pipe to bring the interior of said bag member into receiving relation with the waste pipe,

(d said side walls also defining a second open portion at said open upper end,

(e) the portions of said side walls defining said second open portion of said bag member extending downwardly in their free form at an angle relative to the portions of said side Walls defining said first open portion.

4. A waste collecting device for use in conjunction with the cleaning of a waste pipe, said device comprising:

(a) an imperforate bag member having an open top and closed bottom and water impervious walls, and

(b) closure means connected to only a portion of the upper edges of said walls at said open top for closing only a portion of said open top around the end of such a waste pipe and for thereby connecting the interior of said bag member in fluid-receiving relation with the end of the waste pipe,

(c) the remainder of the top of said bag member extending in its free form at an angle to the closable portion thereof and being devoid of closure means to facilitate the insertion of an elongated cleaning device into the end of such a waste pipe through said bag member while said member is so connected to the waste pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,056 Kroeber r Aug. 10, 1880 402,662 Donnelly May 7, 1889 1,732,680 Hanlon Oct. 22, 1929 2,536,834 Baker et al Jan. 2, 1951 2,631,114 OBrien Mar. 10, 1953 2,955,741 Piazze Oct. 11, 1960 3,010,640 Kugler Nov. 28, 1961 

1. A WASTE COLLECTING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE CLEANING OUT OF THE CLEAN-OUT SECTION OF A WASTE PIPE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) AN IMPERFORATE BAG MEMBER HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END AND CLOSED BOTTOM AND WATER-IMPERVIOUS BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS, (B) SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING UPPER TERMINAL PORTIONS DEFINING A FIRST OPEN PORTION AT SAID OPEN END, (C) SECURING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TERMINAL PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN ENCIRCLING RELATION TO THE CLEAN-OUT SECTION OF A WASTE PIPE TO BRING THE INTERIOR OF SAID BAG MEMBER INTO RECEIVING RELATION WITH SAID MEMBER, (D) SAID SIDE WALLS IN ITS FREE FORM ALSO HAVING OTHER UPPER TERMINAL PORTIONS EXTENDING DOWNWARLY AND OUTWARDLY TOWARD SAID BOTOM WALL FROM SAID FIRST MENTIONED UPPER TERMINAL PORTIONS AND AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED TERMINAL PORTIONS AND DEFINING A SECOND OPEN PORTION AT SAID OPEN UPPER END INTERMEDIATE THE EXTREME UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID BAG MEMBER TO PERMIT OF THE INSERTION AND RECIPROCATION OF A CLEANING ROD WITHIN THE CLEAN-OUT SECTION OF A WASTE PIPE WHILE SAID BAG MEMBER IS SO SECURED THERETO. 